Comments on: Developing Math Confidence

By: Noelle Pickering

Noelle Pickering — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 15:28:05 +0000

In reply to Erica. Hi Erica! Totally! Parents can play such a valuable role in encouraging their child, as well as teaching them to persevere. If you are going to send something home, then I would suggest making it easy to implement and providing a key for parents. Sometimes it has been a while since they have used those math skills. :)

By: Erica

Erica — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 23:18:13 +0000

Hi Noelle,
Thank you for all of your posts! Math confidence is something I am focusing on with my students this year because I saw how detrimental it was for some of my students last year (they wouldn’t even try a problem because they thought they couldn’t do it!). I plan to rework my 8th grade intervention lab to focus more on basic skills that they need or are lacking.

Have you ever connected with parents about a student’s math confidence and had them support the student more at home?

By: Noelle Pickering

Noelle Pickering — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 18:18:55 +0000

In reply to Janice. That is an interesting point. I always required students to get help, so that weren't just adding gaps to their learning. Do you allow them to retest, so that their grade reflects their new learning?

By: Janice

Janice — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 12:52:30 +0000

Love your blogs. So much good information.
I also use a test correction sheet, but I don’t change the test grade. Students rework the problem and explain their errors. This could be counted as a daily grade or possibly even a quiz grade. I guess it depends on whether the corrections are done in class or at home. I send mine home and am fine with them getting help from someone. They can also come to me to help them understand and complete corrections. Test grades would be artificially inflated if changed after all this help.

By: Noelle Pickering

Noelle Pickering — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 05:04:51 +0000

In reply to Suzanne Hall. Thanks Suzanne! I am so glad you are finding it helpful. Let me know how the test corrections work out for you!

By: Suzanne Hall

Suzanne Hall — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 00:34:57 +0000

I think the test corrections page is genius! I can picture it with 12 boxes – basically room to re-work the problem. I, too, love your blog and have been going through each post one by one.

By: Noelle Pickering

Noelle Pickering — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 12:21:44 +0000

In reply to Cara Thomasson. Hi Cara! At this time, I don't have one available, but I will let you know as soon as I do. Thanks!

By: Cara Thomasson

Cara Thomasson — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 19:38:47 +0000

In reply to Natalie.

Hello,
I would love to have your test correction document. Please send to thomassoncara@gmail.com.
Thanks!

By: Noelle Pickering

Noelle Pickering — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 10:49:37 +0000

In reply to Natalie. Hi Natalie, thanks so much for stopping by! I am glad you enjoyed the site. :) Yes, test corrections, such a great idea! I didn't event think about how that promotes confidence because students are able to give it another shot and show what they have learned. It sounds like you have a great system! Thanks for the wonderful thought.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 17:52:40 +0000

Noelle, this is the first time I’ve visited your site and it’s so inspiring! I’m a second year teacher, and I’ve really loved teaching 6th grade math. I have created a document I call Test Corrections, and it’s entirely optional but highly encouraged after each Chapter Test. I keep the stack in the same place all year so that students know exactly where to go to find them.
After each test, students can complete the Test Corrections in order to analyze their errors and correct them. If they correct every problem they initially missed, I average a 100% score with their first attempt. I still reference their struggles for interventions, but at least a test score won’t ruin their grade/confidence. In fact, I work with them after the first test of the year, modeling my expectations and asking students to share mistakes with the class so that all students understand what it means to analyze their errors and make corrections. It requires students to use math vocabulary to describe where they went wrong, and I won’t accept answers such as, “I didn’t understand but now I do.” They must be specific, and they must show their work proving that they corrected it. This gets rid of students requesting retakes, and having to manage that, and I’ve found that throughout the year students get more comfortable sharing their errors and allowing the class to analyze them together. I essentially collect the tests twice; once to grade it and once to grade their corrections. Just wanted to share! I’d be happy to email you the document; you could probably make it more appealing!!
Thanks for all your blog has to offer,
Natalie

By: Noelle Pickering

Noelle Pickering — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 18:53:52 +0000

In reply to Diane Finocchiaro. Those are great points, Diane! How do you manage keeping tracking of who is getting point back? I think that is a great idea.

By: Diane Finocchiaro

Diane Finocchiaro — Sat, 19 Mar 2016 12:41:59 +0000

I give my students an opportunity to earn back half the points they missed on classwork assignments if they redo the problem correctly. They immediately redo it and hand me back the assignment. I also reward good work with stickers. I also remind them about how much more they know now than they did in the beginning of the year.